Insecurity: Nigeria Customs frowns on increasing smuggling, seizes N1.6bn explosive materials, hard drugs

*Kayode Kolade, Acting Customs Area Controller of NCS, states the zone condemns increasing smuggling in the zone as the Command intercepted raw materials for production of explosive devices, cannabis sativa, and other contraband with a duty-paid value of N1.6billion with nine suspects

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Against the backdrop of reported insecurity of lives and property of the citizenry in several areas, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has frowned on the increasing rate of smuggling activities in the country.

The Federal Operations Unit, Zone C of the Service intercepted raw materials for the production of explosive devices, cannabis sativa, and other contraband with a duty-paid value of N1.6bn between July and September 2023

ConsumerConnect reports Mr. Kayode Kolade, Acting Customs Area Controller of NCS, in charge of the zone, disclosed this development to reporters at Edo State Government Warehouse, in Benin City, the state capital.

Jerry Attah, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the zone Monday, September 25, 2023, quoted the Acting Area Controller as saying that within the period under review, the NCS operatives arrested nine suspect in connection with the seizures.

Kolade, who condemned the spate of smuggling in the zone, also said N54.2million was also recovered by the zone from demand notices, making a cumulative sum of N1.6billion.

The Acting Customs Area Controller of NCS stated: “Other contraband seized included, 417 sacks of cannabis sativa also known as Indian hemp weighing 9,194kg and 627 compressed parcels of the same Indian hemp 1kg each totalling 627kg, nine sacks of explosives’ raw materials (fertilizer, device cables, and Superpower90 chemicals) 50kg each, 1,329 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice 50kg each, five cartons of DSP cough syrup with codeine 100mg in 1,000 bottles.

“One of armoured bullion van, 761 jumbo bales of second-hand clothing, 883 cartons of various unregistered/expired medicaments including tramadol, 100 cartons of various wines, 5,737 pieces of used pneumatic tires, 335 cartons of smuggled foreign tomato paste, 300 cartons of foreign spaghetti, among others” were seized from suspects.

Kolade further explained that the contraband were intercepted at different locations under the jurisdiction of the zone.

“Based on prompt intelligence and sting operation, the bags of rice were intercepted along Calabar/Akwa Ibom axis and Okada/Benin Expressway, the 417 sacks and 627 parcels of Indian hemp were intercepted at Okada-Benin and Ewu-Auchi Expressway respectively.

“Seven hundred and sixty-one jumbo bales of used clothing mostly concealed in trucks and buses were intercepted along Umeikaa/Aba Road and Okada-Benin Road,” he explained.

The top official of the Service also noted: “The five cartons of DSP cough syrup with codeine, and 883 cartons of unregistered medicaments were intercepted along Benin/Asaba/Onitsha Expressway while the armoured bullion van without Customs documents and end users certificate was intercepted along Okada/Benin Expressway.

“One hundred cartons of wine and 335 tomato paste were intercepted along the Ewu/Ibilo axis, and 5,737 pieces of used pneumatic tires were also intercepted along Cross River waterside and Okada-Benin Expressway,” he said.

While expressing worry over the increasing smuggling of explosives, he acknowledged the country had continued to grapple with the challenges associated with insecurity across Nigeria.

Kolade, therefore, warned smugglers to desist forthwith in the interest of humanity or face the wrath of the law.